The Boston Red Sox head to Philadelphia for a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. It may be their toughest task yet.
The Phillies have Zack Wheeler, Christopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo lined up to start. Luzardo has struggled at times this year, but both Wheeler and Sanchez are in the National League Cy Young race.
The Phillies are leading the National League East at 56-43. Their rotation ERA is the second-best in baseball. Their wRC+ is the tenth best. If there’s a knock on the team, it’s the bullpen.
Philadelphia’s bullpen ERA is 23rd in baseball at 4.36. Ahead of their series with the Red Sox, they made a move to sure up that unit by signing relief pitcher David Robertson, according to Jeff Passan.
Robertson threw for teams on Sunday in Providence, Rhode Island, and reportedly signed with the Phillies not long after. The 40-year-old appeared in 68 games for the Texas Rangers last season and registered a 3.00 ERA.
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He struck out 33% of the hitters he faced, while walking 9.4%. It’s unclear how his velocity will hold up after so much time off, but his 93 mph cutter is a dominant pitch at its best.
Orion Kerkering, Jordan Romano, and Matt Strahm have handled most of the high-leverage work for the Phillies this season. Jose Alvarado had also been used in important spots as well, but was suspended by the league for using a performance-enhancing substance. Robertson could immediately slot into a high-leverage role for a team in need of quality bullpen innings.
